Buddle, Gomez get their shots

From off the radar to right on target, Edson Buddle's dream year continued Tuesday when the Galaxy forward learned he had earned a shot at playing in the World Cup this summer.

Buddle, 28, was one of 30 players on the roster announced by U.S. Soccer who will take part in training starting next week in New Jersey. The team will be pared to 23 before its departure to South Africa later this month.

While Buddle began the season as an improbable selection - he is not even in the U.S. team's media guide - his meteoric start in the MLS season caught the attention of national team coach Bob Bradley.

"I'm not an overconfident person and I like to see things to believe it," said Buddle, who has a league-leading nine goals in eight games. "I'm not going to hear things and believe it. Promises are comfort to a fool, they say, and I'm happy that I can be part of this experience."

Also making the team from out of nowhere was forward Herculez Gomez, who led the Mexican League with 10 goals for Puebla and has been training with Chivas.

The forward selections were made as U.S. regular Charlie Davies was left off the roster. Davies suffered near-fatal injuries in a car accident in October and despite rapid progress in rehabilitation, was not cleared to join the team.

"It's pretty sad," Kljestan said. "He's come a long way and obviously they don't feel he's there yet, which is disappointing for him. But that's the realization of it. He's one of my best friends and I hope to see him on the field wearing a U.S. jersey soon after the World Cup and I know he'll still be our No. 1 fan for the team in South Africa.

"I'm sad for him, but I'm happy he's alive and I'm happy he's coming back and I hope he scores some goals pretty soon for his club."

Kljestan was thought to be on the bubble and arrived for Chivas' training session Tuesday without knowing if he had been selected.

"I felt that I had been playing really well as of late, the past six weeks," Kljestan said. "I felt I deserved to be there, but at the end of the day, it was out of my hands. When I went to bed last night, I told myself I've done everything I possibly can since the start of 2010 to hopefully make the team.

"I thought to myself if I came out of practice today and didn't make it, I wouldn't have any regrets."

Bornstein, who played club ball with Kljestan growing up and against him in their high school years, also was on the U.S. team that reached the Confederations Cup final against Brazil last summer.

He and Kljestan also played for Bradley as rookies for Chivas.

"It's good to be part of that 30-man group," Bornstein said. "There's still some preparation to do as a team, so that's what we're all looking forward to.

"I need to play solid defense within practice, be sharp and contribute to the group as best I can."

Gomez was told the news by Chivas coach Martin Vasquez during the training session.

"Pretty exciting, especially for where I was four months ago," Gomez said. "It's pretty crazy.

"I know there's been a lot of talk, but I still kind of didn't expect it. I'm very honored and privileged and I know I'm in a position where a lot of players want to be, so I'm definitely grateful for that."

Gomez credits his time in the Mexican League with sharpening his skills.

"It's crazy being back in training," he said. "You just see details and little things. I think I definitely have become faster. My speed of thought has become faster and hopefully I can translate that and keep that going.

"It was a great experience. Confidence-wise, it helped me a lot and my maturity level on and off the field has really changed and I think that's beneficial."

Buddle, who played part of one match with the national team in 2003, has endured a seven-year wait.

"Nothing happens before its time, and right now it's happened and who knows why I never got called in before," he said. "But timing is everything and maybe it's my time to show what I can do."